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Is Boston or CIM harder? (Read 149 times)

ch17


It's Tuesday every day

    Hello! Sorry if this seems like a naive question. I've run Boston Marathon more than once, so I know it pounds your legs. But I've also heard that the middle miles of CIM (California International Marathon) can do that. So, if you've run both, which did you find more difficult, terrain-wise? Thanks!

    darkwave


    Mother of Cats

      I've run Boston once, CIM twice.  In terms of execution, I believe Boston is the more challenging course.  It's not just the climbs or the downhill nature, but where stuff is placed.

       

      In terms of recovery, I found CIM hard on my body both times I ran it.  I recovered from Boston much more quickly, but that may have been because I ran it in 2018, and being hypothermic seemed to have actually aided my recovery, post-race.

      Everyone's gotta running blog; I'm the only one with a POOL-RUNNING blog.

       

      And...if you want a running Instagram where all the pictures are of cats, I've got you covered.

      JMac11


      RIP Milkman

        I found only one stretch of CIM "pounding" on my legs (I can't exactly remember where, but it was a pretty steep downhill that had some turning to it, somewhere before the half). Boston, the problem is that pounding occurs in the first few miles, so you can really pay for it later. Either way, I think Boston is much worse. Put another way, you should train for hills for Boston, but for CIM, as long as you don't run on pancake flat terrain, you'll be okay.

        5K: 16:37 (11/20)  |  10K: 34:49 (10/19)  |  HM: 1:14:57 (5/22)  |  FM: 2:36:31 (12/19) 

         

         

        kcam


          Boston's more difficult (Ive run Boston 6 times and CIM 8 times).  A lot of people allow themselves to be sucked out to faster starts than they should at Boston.  The CIM start is somehow more low-key and you just do your own thing which is good.  But even if you resist that hot start the Newton hills come late and can demoralize you.  Weather, of course, is almost always better at CIM (if you like to run in the cold).

          Sorry, you asked about terrain ... I actually feel they are both about the same in terms of punishment applied to my legs!

          ch17


          It's Tuesday every day

            Hello, you all. Thank you for the replies! This is all good stuff, exactly what I needed to know. Have a great week! --Christine

            ch17


            It's Tuesday every day

              Also, @kcam: did you say that CIM tends to be colder than Boston? I (heart) cold weather, and CIM being cooler than Boston is not something I would have expected. --Thanks again, Christine

              CalBears


                Also, @kcam: did you say that CIM tends to be colder than Boston? I (heart) cold weather, and CIM being cooler than Boston is not something I would have expected. --Thanks again, Christine

                 

                The beauty of CIM is almost guaranteed great running weather - since 2012, when I ran it first time, the temps were in a range of 40-55oF, one year it was 25oF at the time of the start - a little bit of cold, but still absolutely great weather for a race. Usually the wind is not noticeable, couple of years we had fog and a drizzle - just a dream weather! The only "problem" is sun appears most of the time at around 8am and could warm up a little bit, but not too much. Three years I ran Boston. the temps were always above 55oF and at 10am we had direct sun - that made actual temps feel much much warmer. I think only 2015 the weather was more or less OK in Boston, but still - worse than what CIM has almost every year. Smile

                 

                Every time I write this I am afraid people would come and finally get an awful weather at CIM and then blame me Smile

                paces PRs - 5K - 5:48  /  10K - 6:05  /  HM - 6:14  /  FM - 6:26 per mile

                kcam


                  Oleg, were you at CIM in 2012!  That year was a monsoon, tough day to race.  We were huddling under the buildings near the start to stay out of the heavy rain and wind!  But that was, by far, the worst weather I've run at CIM.  The other 7 times it has been, for me, dream running weather as you mentioned.  I like it cold and CIM usually delivers.  My best Boston (2000) was a day that started at about 35 deg in Hopkinton and finished at about 30 in Boston, sunny and no wind the whole way - now that is close to PERFECT weather to me.  My Boston PR.

                  Running Problem


                  Problem Child

                    CIM is such an easy marathon I PR'd my half marathon in the first half of the race AND PR'd the full marathon by 5 minutes over a Run Revel marathon. I've never run Boston and there is no doubt in my mind on the same day with the same weather and the same crowds Boston would just destroy runners whereas CIM would just hand you PR after PR. CIM is the number 2 Boston qualifying course for a reason. It is an easy 26.2 mile run.

                    Many of us aren't sure what the hell point you are trying to make and no matter how we guess, it always seems to be something else. Which usually means a person is doing it on purpose.

                    VDOT 53.37 

                    5k18:xx | Marathon 2:55:22

                    CalBears


                      Oleg, were you at CIM in 2012!  That year was a monsoon, tough day to race.  We were huddling under the buildings near the start to stay out of the heavy rain and wind!  But that was, by far, the worst weather I've run at CIM.  The other 7 times it has been, for me, dream running weather as you mentioned.  I like it cold and CIM usually delivers.  My best Boston (2000) was a day that started at about 35 deg in Hopkinton and finished at about 30 in Boston, sunny and no wind the whole way - now that is close to PERFECT weather to me.  My Boston PR.

                       

                      Yes, Ken - that was my first CIM and I was so lucky with that Smile It definitely was the worst CIM I've ecer experienced - too much water all over the course and heavy headwind miles 6-11. Despite all that weather I remember it was 55oF and no sun, of course - so, it was not a PR weather but I didn't feel miserable Smile

                      paces PRs - 5K - 5:48  /  10K - 6:05  /  HM - 6:14  /  FM - 6:26 per mile

                      CalBears


                        CIM is such an easy marathon I PR'd my half marathon in the first half of the race AND PR'd the full marathon by 5 minutes over a Run Revel marathon. I've never run Boston and there is no doubt in my mind on the same day with the same weather and the same crowds Boston would just destroy runners whereas CIM would just hand you PR after PR. CIM is the number 2 Boston qualifying course for a reason. It is an easy 26.2 mile run.

                         

                        Please keep in mind guys that Brew has a very specific sense of humor 

                        paces PRs - 5K - 5:48  /  10K - 6:05  /  HM - 6:14  /  FM - 6:26 per mile

                        JMac11


                        RIP Milkman

                           

                          Please keep in mind guys that Brew has a very specific sense of humor 

                           

                          I don't know. I went there and was handed a huge PR on my first try there. So I think he's on to something 

                          5K: 16:37 (11/20)  |  10K: 34:49 (10/19)  |  HM: 1:14:57 (5/22)  |  FM: 2:36:31 (12/19) 

                           

                           

                          Mikkey


                          Mmmm Bop

                            CIM is such an easy marathon I PR'd my half marathon in the first half of the race AND PR'd the full marathon by 5 minutes over a Run Revel marathon. I've never run Boston and there is no doubt in my mind on the same day with the same weather and the same crowds Boston would just destroy runners whereas CIM would just hand you PR after PR. CIM is the number 2 Boston qualifying course for a reason. It is an easy 26.2 mile run.

                             

                            Oleg - Bring it on. 🤗

                             

                            Has Brew ever run a hard marathon? 🤨

                            5k - 17:53 (4/19)   10k - 37:53 (11/18)   Half - 1:23:18 (4/19)   Full - 2:50:43 (4/19)

                            Running Problem


                            Problem Child

                               

                              Please keep in mind guys that Brew has a very specific sense of humor 

                               

                              Also a lot of truth in the statement I made above. PR'd the half and the full, Boston never has the weather CIM does, and while Boston is more net downhill (which no one EVER cares about until CIM comes up) it will probably be harder for me than CIM. If Boston had low 40s starting temps and a light breeze with 12,000 runners I'm positive the same runners would claim Boston was harder. The two people I've know to talk about the courses with more experience with Boston have said CIM hurt more and they still say Boston is harder. It can't be that 75% of runners go out too fast at Boston and CIM attracts runners who are smarter with their racing and pace themselves better for 22 miles of rolling hills with a pancake flat finish.

                               

                              Mikey Nope. I walked all the hard ones. Revel Mt. Charleston 2019 and Chicago 2018.

                              Many of us aren't sure what the hell point you are trying to make and no matter how we guess, it always seems to be something else. Which usually means a person is doing it on purpose.

                              VDOT 53.37 

                              5k18:xx | Marathon 2:55:22

                              JMac11


                              RIP Milkman

                                Boston is harder. I don't care how many more feet downhill it is. In CIM, you never face anything even remotely like the Newton hills. At no point in CIM did I feel like I had to stay focused when going up a hill to keep my legs moving. In Boston, miles 16-20 are just not fun. Even on same exact weather days, I'd take CIM. The only thing could potentially benefit you at Boston are the crowds if you're the type of person that feeds off the energy (the most exciting thing I saw at CIM was a goat on the course around mile 3).

                                5K: 16:37 (11/20)  |  10K: 34:49 (10/19)  |  HM: 1:14:57 (5/22)  |  FM: 2:36:31 (12/19) 

                                 

                                 

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